The good folks at the California Wildlife Center (CWC) recently came to the rescue of a mockingbird who needed just that sort of assistance. An unknown injury had caused her feet to knuckle, a common condition in young birds that makes it difficult for them to perch, grasp objects or even walk around.

"We needed to train her feet back to how they should be," CWC veterinarian Duane Tom told The Dodo. "Essentially, we used pieces of cardboard to tape her toes into their proper position. It usually takes a week or two of wearing the snowshoes before their feet are back to normal."